Combined pipe-line cleaner and fluid separator



Oct. 20, '1942. A, R|NEYI ET AL 2,299,254

COMBINED RIPELINE CLEANER AND FLUID SEPARATOR A,.H. RINEY l .J. WEBER AT TO NEY Oct 20,- 1942 A. H. RINEY ETAL 2,299,254

COMBINED PIPELINE CLEANER AND FLUID SEPRATOR Filed June 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

vINVENTOR A.H. R|NEY L.J. WEBER Patented Oct. 20, 1942 COMBINED PIPE-LINE CLEANER AND FLUID SEPARATOR Arthur H. Riney and Louis J. Weber, Bartlesville, Okla., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1939, Serial No. 281,282

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a combinedy pipe cleaner and fiuid separator. It is particularly adapted to remove films from the inside surface of a pipe line and to separate one fluid from another during the transportation of two` fluids through the line. While our device is especially suitable for use in pipe lines for transporting different grades of crude and t-reatedpetroleum it may be employed with equally satisfactory results in conveying various other fluids through pipe lines or similar conduits. v

Present day practice in transporting fluids for great distances, contemplates pumping the fluids through suitable conduits or pipe lines. The usual pipe line, such as a petroleum pipe line, may serve termini that are many miles apart and has a large fluid capacity. Since the installation of these lines involves the expenditure of large sums of money, it is not economically feasible to construct a separate line for conveying each fluid. It is therefore customary to transmit the desired amounts of various liquids successively through an individual line. The usual procedure is to pump the predetermined amount of one fluid into the line; the second fluid is then introduced into the line and transported therethrough under` pressure. In some cases the two fluids are in direct contact with each other, and, as a consequence, may intermix more or less freely, depending upon the composition of the fluids. This intermixing is generally objectionable. For example, if a quantity of slug or crude petroleum is immediately followed by a slug of refined gasoline and passed through a pipe line, there will be a mixing of a portion of each of the fluids with the other. The extent-to which this intermixing occurs depends to a great extent on the character of the fluids, the length of the pipe line, and the conditions under which the materials are transported.V A gasoline which has become contaminated by a crude petroleum in this manner is generally not fit for consumption upon arrival at the receiving end of the line, but must first be reprocessed in order to remove the adulterating components.

A number of mechanical plugs have beendevised for insertion in the line between differentfluids. 'These plugs are adapted to travel through the line with the fluids and, broadly speaking, act as a partition between the fluids. While these plugs afford varying degrees of protection against intermixing, experience has proven that none of lthem is fully suited to perform its intended functions in a satisfactory manner. The main ob-v jection to their use is due to the fact that a cernates the objectionable intermixing experienced heretofore during the transportation of successive slugs of different fluids through a pipe line. Our device in its preferred form includes a hollow central body on which is located a plurality of flexible wiping discs and Wire brushes alternately arranged. The wiping discs and brushes are employed toremove lms of the fluid preceding our device that may have become deposited on the inner surface of the piping, and thereby reduce contamination of the fluid which follows the device. tioned within the central body and communicates with one end thereof. This pump ejects removed iilm and any fluid that may seep into our device between the disc and brush assemblies and the inside wall of the piping. Suitable rotary means in contact with the pipe wall are coupled to the pump to actuate the same. Our device may be inserted in the line so that the materials discharged by the pump will be directed either upstream or downstream of the direction of flow.

It is the primary object of this invention to substantially eliminate contamination and intermixture of one Iiuid by and with another when two fluids differing in composition are transported through the same pipe line or similar conduit in succession.

This invention has for another object the provision of means for mechanically separating two fiuids in a dependable and eflicient manner while they are being conveyed under pressure through a pipe line.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined pipe cleaner and fluid separator which is simple and compact in construction; inexpensive to manufacture and maintain; and

positive and dependable in operation.

Thesenand other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art by refer- 4 ence to the following detailed description and annexed drawings which respectively describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view/partly in cross f larly to Figure 1, we have denoted therein a por- A reciprocating pump isposi tion of a pipe line I3 within which is a central body consisting of tubular members II and I2, rigidly united by an internally threaded `ring I3 that is flanged at I4- and is aillxed to tubular member II by welding or some other convenient method. The front end of the central body is provided with a reducing nipple I5 which has a flange I5. A plurality of alternately arranged flexible wiping discs or sealing members I1 and circular wire brushes I3 on spools I3 are maintained in position on tubular member II through the cooperation of flange I3 on nipple I5 and flange I4 lon ring I3. Aclosure 23, having a flange 2|, is inY threaded engagement with the rear end of the central body and coacts with a fixed back-up plate 22 to support a second assembly of flexible discs I1 and a'wirelbrush I8 therebetween.

A pump cylinder 23 having a bore 24, has a flanged back end 25 disposed and sustained between the ends of tubular members I I and I2. A removable cylinder head 23 is provided with a fluid outlet 21 that communicates with a discharge conduit 28, this conduit extending beyond reducing nipple I5 and being supported therein through the coaction of an externally threaded nut 23, a sealing gasket 33 and a flxed partition 3 I Back flow of fluid from conduit 23 to cylinder bore 24 is prevented by a check valve which consists of a ball 32 and a compression spring 33. A

'piston 34 is adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder bore and is provided with a pair of communieating fluid passages 35 and 33. The forward end of passagel 35 is equipped with valve means in-` cluding a ball check valve 31, a compression spring 33 and a nut 33. Fluid and fllm which are -contaminate the refined gasoline.

renned gasoline through a pipe line designated by a section of pipe I3 in the drawings. After the slug of crude petroleum has been pumped into the line, our device is inserted therein so .that discharge conduit 23 communicates with the crude petroleum. The slug of refined gasoline ls then pumped into the line and both fluids are transmitted therethrough, with our device serving as a plug or partition between the two fluids. As our device passes through the line, wiping discs I1 and Wire brushes I3 will remove films of the crude petroleum that may have adhered to the inner wall of the piping. A portion of each fluid will enter the region between the extreme end Awiping discs by seepage between the peripheries of these discs and the inside of the piping. Under normal working conditions, some of the removed f'llm will also seep past the front discs.

-It is therefore essential that the fluid and film that has `thus been admitted between the end discs be removed, otherwise, some of the crude petroleum and fllm will seep past our device and This isv prevented by the utilization of the pumping means.

y With the construction illustrated in the drawings,

fluid and film enters tubular member I2 by way A of slot 42, passes through passage 35, and due to hauued by our pump may be admitted m the ports 43, passages 4I, 33, and 35, in the order indicated, and finally past the piston check valve andV into the forward portion of the cylinder bore.

While our pump may be operated by any one of a number of actuating means, we find that excellent results may be obtained by employing the operating means illustrated in the drawings. This includes -a pair of parallel spaced brackets 44 which are rigidly mounted on tubular member -I2 and support rollers 45 and 46 on a shaft 41,

having an end nut 43, and threaded pins 43, respectively. Rollers 46 are coupled by a crankshaft 50 which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the rollers. All the rollers are preferably made of natural or synthetic rubber or some composition material which will produce the desired traction when the peripheries of the rollers are in contact withreach other and with the inner wall of the pipe. It will be noted that a. slot 5I in the lower portion of each bracket contains a coil spring 52 for urging rollers 46 against the pipe wall. A post 53, mounted on the central body and having a pivot 54, carries a rocker arm 55 which has a forked end 56 in engagement with crankshaft 50 and a slot 51 at its other end to receive a pin 58 on piston 34.

In describing the operation of our device, let us assume that it is desired to transmit a quanthe ressure of the fluid, the check valve means in t e front end of piston 34 will be opened on the'back stroke of the piston, permitting the fluid to flow into the front portion of cylinder bore 24.` The check valve means in the piston will close on the forward or compression stroke of the piston and and the fluid in the front end of the cylinder will be forced past the check valve means s l in cylinder -head member 23 and thence disy charged from our device through conduit 23. AAs

yplug 40 from its illustrated position in passage 4I and placing it in the back end of passage 35. The fluid and illm instead of being admitted to the pump through the back end of the piston is now admitted through ports 43 and passages 4I, 33, and 35, in the order mentioned. Our pump will in all other respects operate in the manner previously described.

The above described modes of operating our combined pipe cleaner and fluid separator contemplate positioning the device in the pipe line so that the pump will discharge into the fluid preceding the device. This is recommended in cases where it is desirable to prevent the fluid ahead of the device from tainting the fluid following it. When it is essential that the downstream fluid be protected against contamination by the upstream fluid, our device should be placed in the line so that the pump will discharge into the upstream fluid. t For example, if a "slug of refined gasoline is pumped into the line and then followed by a slug" of crude oil. our separator should be inserted` between the fluids with the discharge conduit emptying upstream or into the y crude oil.

tity of crude petroleum and then a quantity of From the .foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of our present invention will be readily comprehended by bers, and means responsive to axial movement of with the space between the sealing membersand an exhaust passage in fluid communication with a point outside the space between the sealing members, and means responsive to axial movement of the sealing members in a pipe to actuate the pump. n

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of spaced means i'or forming a seal with and for removing accumulations from the inner surface of a pipe, each of said means including a pair of wiping discs and a brush positioned therebetween, a pump having an intake passage in fluid communication with the space between the extreme wiping discs and an exhaust passage in fluid communication with a point outside the space between the extreme wiping discs.,

the central body in a pipe to' actuate the pump.

4. A device of the character described comprising a hollow central body, a pair of spaced lmeans connected to the central body for forming a seal -with and for removing accumulations from the inner surface of a pipe, each of said means including a pair of wiping discs and a brush positioned therebetween, a pump having an. intake passage in uid communication with the space between the extreme wiping discs and an exhaust passage in iiuid communication with a point outside the space between the extreme vwiping discs, and means responsive to axial movement of the central body in the pipe to actuate the pump.

' ARTHUR H. RINEY.

LOUIS J. WEBER. 

